Industrial development has brought us many benefits such as cheaper products and new products, and has created a market that is filled with various types of products. To prevent consumers from being hurt by products with harmful substances, food products are inspected by the Food and Drug Administration in the US, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in Canada. It seems that governments are more concerned with the safety of substances that we input to our body such as food and drugs; however, most governments fail to address safety concerns with those products that we consume through our skin. Yes, I am talking about soaps and shampoo, cosmetics, and sunscreen – products most people use one or the other of everyday.
Since governments are not keen about enforcing law and policies to regulate the use of harmful chemicals in everyday toiletry products, it is important for us to know what are in these products and choose to buy products free from SLS and other harmful chemicals.
The followings are some harmful chemicals that you may be exposed to: (Please click on the chemical name listed to learn more about those chemicals, and how they are harmful)
Soaps, Shampoo and soaps:
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
Propylene Glycol (Antifreeze)
1, 4 Dioxane
Dioxin
Cosmetics:
Bentonite
Propylene glycol
Diethanolamine (DEA)
Polyethylene glycol (PEG)
Benzylphanone
Sodium benzoate
Glycerin
Collagen
Talc
Sunscreens:
PABA / Oxybenzone / benzophenone
What to Do?
There is a line of SLS-Free toiletry products that has joined the market. Look for SLS-Free products when buying toiletry products. You can learn how to look for SLS-free products here.
Now you know why and how to watch out for harmful chemicals in your everyday toiletry products. Do you think government should enforce policies and legislations that address the issue of harmful chemicals in toiletry products, or do you think people are capable of living with, and ultimately need to deal with those chemicals and develop a tolerance or defense against them. Leave a comment!
